The Spanish-born composer Rodolfo Halffter's chamber music embraced influences from both the Old and New Worlds, his compositional approach shifting freely between nationalism, neo-classicism and the avant-garde. The works on this second volume span most of his career, from the two Sonatas de El Escorial (1928) to Epinicio (1979). Whether referring back to the Renaissance or the time of Scarlatti and Soler, his music fascinates listeners with its dancing rhythms and highly individual character.

Audiophile AuditionThe Madrid-based musical forces under conductor Manuel Coves turn in very polished performances that bespeak a close affinity for Halffter's idiom. Francisco Segovia has most of the heavy lifting to do, in Halffter's late serial compositions for piano, but impressive solo performances come as well from Victor Arriola and Cinta Varea. And though the recordings were set down in a number of different venues in Madrid, the sonics are pleasing across the board. I guess it's time to catch up with Volume 1...

MusicWeb InternationalOnce again, the sound quality on this studio recording is very good - only the Capricho has a very faint but noticeable hum all the way through. Inside the booklet, the liner notes are good and some of the soloists even get a small, old Eastern bloc-style photograph. Performances are solid, warm and enthusiastic - colour photos for all in volume 3 maybe?